Odell Graves

Odell Graves, age 86, of Erie, died Monday, April 13, 2015 at U.P.M.C. Hamot following a brief illness. He was born in Collins, Mississippi on December 25, 1928 a son of the late Aster and Maddie Knight Graves.

Odell was a longtime employee of Zurn Industries retiring after 40 years’ service. He was a member of Friendship Baptist Church and loved to fish and loved to tell good stories; he was hard working, enjoyed gardening; he was a very good person at heart. In addition to his parents, Odell was preceded in death by his wife, Varnell Magee Graves; a son, Robert Anthony Thomas; his step mother, Tama Magee Graves; his brother, Aster Graves, Jr.; and his step sister, Dorothy Mae Graves.

He leaves to cherish his memory, Lula Mae Thomas. Survivors include his five daughters, Betty L. Graves and Betty J. Graves, of Collins, MS and Sadie McKinzie, Jacqueline Wells (Gregory), Michelle Thomas, all of Erie; his sons, Emmett L. Graves, of Chicago, IL and Christopher M. Graves (Destinee), of Erie; sisters, Dlo Barnes Jones ( Lee), Stella Moffatt (Julius), Myrtle Barnes ( John) and Emma Lyons Gray. Brothers, Michael Charles Graves, Rev. Willie V. Magee and Willie C. Graves. He is further survived by many grandchildren, great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Friends may call at the Burton Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. on Monday from 2pm to 4pm and 7pm to 9 pm and are invited to funeral services at Mt. Ebal Baptist Church 1617 East 26th Street on Tuesday at 11 a.m. with the Reverend Danny Stanton of Fellowship Baptist Church presiding.

Burial will be in Erie Cemetery.

Send condolences at www.BurtonFuneralHome.com